Arcade Fire @ Enmore Theatre, Sydney
I do believe the Arcade Fire just absolutely destroyed Sydney tonight. How amazing was that?
I’ve seen Arcade Fire a couple times back home in the PNW so I had ridiculously high expectations for tonight’s gig at the Enmore. I knew what was coming. I knew that the Arcade Fire are one of the best live bands around right now. And yet they still blew me away…in fact, I think I had forgotten just how bloody awesome they are live.
When the opening chords of Wake Up reverberated through the theatre I was embarrassingly excited. It was clear from the earliest moments of the gig that the band were in good spirits and that before the night was through they were going to pour themselves out on stage. And they did.
Keep The Car Running was the song I was most looking forward to this time around and when it followed Wake Up I was worried the band would peak too early, but the show just continually built towards its triumphant finale. When the band did slow down for a few moments they showed they can pull off delicate just as easily as bombast. Neon Bible, for instance, was plucked quietly by Win as his wife Regine gently tapped out the rhythm on electronic drum pads. When the song ended Win quickly began an impromptu take of New Order’s Age of Consent. This has been covered quite a bit by the band previously, but tonight’s version was a more acoustic take. I loved it.
The band were in great spirits all night. Win commented that the band were very appreciative of their first proper Australian audience and that they’d be here more often if we weren’t so far away. They even played Headlights Look Like Diamonds from their first EP as a way of catching up the Aussie audience. I love it when bands pay attention to stuff like that.
The highest highs of the night though came from the Funeral tracks. Haiti is a totally different song live and Tunnels was turned into a massive sing along. The main set then closed with a massive, heavy version of Power Out and Rebellion. The crowd was screaming along to every word and when the band left the stage the crowd immediately roared for an encore.
And the band, of course, obliged with Intervention and Laika. Laika was a great way to end the night as Will and Richard spent most of the song beating the shit out of each other with drum sticks. As the band waved goodnight, dripping with sweat, I really don’t think I could have asked for anything more.
What a gig. Easily one of the best shows I’ve seen since living here…if not the best. (I’ve had to delete the expletives from this or it would have just looked been a lot of “fucking amazing” and “fucking awesome.”)
Setlist (January 22, 2008)
Wake Up
Keep The Car Running
Black Mirror
No Cars Go
Haiti
Black Wave/Bad Vibrations
Neon Bible
Age of Consent
Ocean of Noise
Tunnels
The Well and the Lighthouse
Headlights Look Like Diamonds
(Antichrist Television Blues)
Power Out
Rebellion (Lies)
——
Intervention
Laika
I’ve put some photos up on Flickr. Amanda has some amazing shots, but she’s only put up a few so far.
January 23rd, 2008 04:55
Yay! So glad it was a good show!
Was Win in good voice?
January 23rd, 2008 04:59
AMANDA!!!
Gorgeous shots! how awesome that you got up close like that!!!
January 23rd, 2008 08:45
and Deebs, we didn’t even have to try that hard. we got there about 50 mins before doors opened.
Much better review than I could ever muster, Sean Sean.
I’m still shaking my head at how good it was.
January 23rd, 2008 09:01
I’m a whole lot more excited about tonight’s gig. Thanks Sean and Amanda!
January 23rd, 2008 09:04
I’m so glad you share my sentiments on this one. If its written here its official – and I can just forward the link to non-believers! Thanks for those amazing shots (Amanda too) they will help keep the memory alive.
January 23rd, 2008 09:14
Incredible night, still trying to come to terms with the enormity of it. I was in second section on the floor, but still had a great view. Still can’t figure out how the second night scored Spoon, but I am seeing them on Thursday so it worked out good for me anyway.
January 23rd, 2008 14:46
Hard to split last night and National on Monday. I have even bigger expectations for tonight and don’t worry guys, I’ll have the setlist sorted.
January 25th, 2008 08:10
Lovely shots Mr Reminder!! And thank you so much for posting them. I used to do this concert photography lurk as a living in the 1980s and early 1990s but gave it away because I couldn’t stand the hassles that were involved in getting passes and shooting gigs. And also the attitude of band management and some performers who seemed to think that a photographer was making a million dollars from every show. (If only …)